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October 31 Today’s Reading: John 5-6 十月31日 今日經文:約翰福音5-6章 “Testify of Me” John 5:39 給我作見證 約5:39
The Word of God is not a book about science, but the Book about Christ. It is not a book about morality, but the Book about Christ. It is not a book about history, politics, philosophy, or law. It is not even a book about prophecy, church dogma, or theology. The Scriptures, of course, address all these issues and many others; but that is not what they are about. The Book of God is a HIM-BOOK. It is all about Him, the Lord Jesus Christ. The message of Holy Scripture, in its entirety, is the Lord Jesus Christ and Him crucified. There is not a page in the Sacred Volume that does not speak of Christ, not a page! 聖經這本書非關於科學,而是關於基督。這是一本非關於道德,而是關乎基督的書。這不是一本談論歷史、政治、哲學、法律的書,甚至不是一本關於預言、教會規條、或是神學的書。當然聖經提到這些議題,甚至更多其他議題,但這些絕非其主旨。整本聖經的信息是一本「祂的書」,整本書都是關於主耶穌基督。整本聖經講的全都是主耶穌基督並祂釘十字架。在這神聖的經文中沒有一頁不提及基督,沒有一頁!
One Message The Son of God tells us plainly that He is the message and theme of Holy Scripture, that He is the living Word of whom the written Word speaks. This is not a matter of conjecture, speculation, or hermeneutical principal, but something plainly stated in Scripture (John 5:39; Luke 24:27, 44-47). The Apostle Paul, writing by Divine inspiration, makes the preaching of Christ to be synonymous with preaching all the counsel of God, for Christ is all the counsel of God! He said to the Ephesians, "Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God" (Acts 20:26-27). To the Corinthians he wrote, "I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2). And Paul was not one of those men who preached one thing to one crowd and something else to another. He was not the servant of men, but the servant of God. Therefore, his message was always the same. — The Bible, the Word of God, is a Book with one message, and that one message is redemption, righteousness, and eternal life in Christ. 一個信息 神的兒子直接了當告訴我們祂是聖經的信息與主題,祂就是聖經所說的活道。這不是猜想、臆測、或釋經原則,而是白紙黑字記載在聖經中。(約翰福音5:39; 路加福音24:27, 44-47) 使徒保羅受聖靈的感動,寫下他傳揚基督是為傳揚神的旨意,因基督是神的旨意。他對以弗所教會說:「所以我今日向你們證明,你們中間無論何人死亡,罪不在我身上。因為 神的旨意,我並沒有一樣避諱不傳給你們的。」(使徒行傳20:26-27) 他寫給哥林多教會「因為我曾定了主意,在你們中間不知道別的,只知道耶穌基督並他釘十字架」(哥林多前書2:2) 保羅不是那種見人說話的人,他不是人的僕人,而是神的僕人。因此他的信息始終如一: 聖經這本書只有一個信息,就是救贖、公義、並在基督內的永生。
Old Testament Prophecy The Old Testament Scriptures speak of Christ, point us to Christ, and call us to faith in Christ. From the moment that God announced in the Garden of Eden that the Seed of the woman would crush the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15), Christ was the central fact and figure of Old Testament prophecy. Abraham, Jacob, Moses, David, Solomon, and all the prophets spoke of Him. Here are a few of the many prophetic statements that pointed directly to the coming of Christ, His glorious Person, and His redemptive work (Genesis 22:13-14; 49:10; Deuteronomy 18:15-18; Psalms 2:7-8; 45:6-7; 110:3; Proverbs 8:22-23; Song of Solomon 1:2-4; Isaiah 53:8-11; Micah 5:2; Zechariah 12:10; Malachi 3:1). 舊約預言 舊約聖經裡提到耶穌,將我們指向耶穌,召我們信靠基督。從上帝在伊甸園中宣布女人的後裔要傷蛇的頭(創世紀 3:15),基督就是舊約預言的主要真相與本體。亞伯拉罕、雅各、摩西、大衛、所羅門,及所有的先知都提到祂。以下整理出部分舊約眾多經文中,直指基督降世、祂榮耀的位格、及祂救贖工作。(創世紀22:13-14; 49:10; 申命記18:15-18; 詩篇 2:7-8; 45:6-7; 110:3; 箴言8:22-23; 雅歌 1:2-4; 以賽亞書53:8-11; 彌迦書 5:2; 撒迦利亞書12:10; 瑪拉基書3:1)
Old Testament Types In addition to the direct prophecies about the coming of Christ, God gave numerous types and pictures to foreshadow His coming. The types are so numerous that I cannot begin to name them. Let us consider just a few. They may be divided into four different categories: Typical People — Adam (Romans 5:14), Noah (Hebrews 11:7), Melchizedec (Hebrews 7:1-3), Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15-18), Aaron (Hebrews 5:1-5), Joshua (Hebrews 4:1-9), Boaz (Ruth 2:1; 3:18), David (Acts 2:25-36), Solomon (1 Kings 10:1-24). Typical Things — The Ram Caught in a Thicket (Genesis 22:8-13), Jacob’s Ladder (John 1:51), The Brazen Serpent (John 3:14-16), The Paschal Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7), The Scapegoat (Leviticus 16:21), The Manna (John 6:32-33), The Smitten Rock (1 Corinthians 10:4), The Altar of Sacrifice (Hebrews 13:10), The Mercy-Seat (1 John 2:1-2). Typical Events — The Coats made for Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:21), The Deliverance of Israel out of Egypt across the Red Sea (Exodus 14-15) The Slaying of Goliath (1 Samuel 17:38-54), The Deliverance of the Hebrew Men from the Fiery Furnace (Daniel 3:13-30); Daniel’s Deliverance from the Lions’ Den (Daniel 6:4-28). — Typical Places — The Tabernacle (John 1:14), The Temple (John 2:18-20), The Cities of Refuge (Hebrews 6:18). The lists could go on and on. I have not even mentioned all the instituted, ceremonial types, the sabbath days, and the many other instituted types of the Old Testament, all of which pointed to the Person and work of Christ as our Mediator. The reason we are forbidden to observe any of those carnal ordinances of Old Testament worship is that Christ has fulfilled them (Colossians 2:16-17). 舊約預表 除了直接預言基督的降臨,上帝另外給了許多類型與圖像來預表基督的降臨。種類之多不可勝數,我只能列舉一些供大家思想。主要可以分成四大類: 人物的預表: 亞當(羅馬書5:14),挪亞(希伯來書11:4),麥基洗德(希伯來書7:1-3), 摩西(申命記18:15-18), 亞倫(希伯來書5:1-5);,約書亞(希伯來書4:1-9), 波阿斯(路得記2:1; 3:18),大衛(使徒行傳2:25-36), 所羅門(列王記上10:1-24)。 事物的預表: 扣在小樹中的公羊(創世紀22:8-13), 雅各的梯子(約翰福音1:51), 銅蛇(約翰福音3:14-16), 逾越節的羔羊(哥林多前書5:7),代罪羔羊(利未記16:21), 瑪哪(約翰福音6:32-33), 被擊打的磐石(哥林多前書10:4), 祭壇(希伯來書13:10), 施恩座(約翰一書2:1-2)。事件的預表: 為亞當夏娃作的皮衣(創世紀3:21), 以色列人脫離埃及出紅海(出埃及記14-15),擊殺歌利亞(撒母耳記上17:38-54), 解救三個猶太人脫離烈火窯 (但以理書3:13-30), 拯救但以理脫離獅子洞(但以理書6:4-28)。地點的預表: 會幕(約翰福音1:14), 聖殿(約翰福音2:18-20), 避難所(希伯來書6:18)。整份清單可以繼續列下。我還沒提到典章、儀式的預表,安息日,以及許多舊約規章的類型,這一切都指向成為我們中保的基督與祂的工作,我們被禁止遵行舊約屬肉體的敬拜儀式,是因基督已經成就了一切。(歌羅西書2:16-17)
New Testament The doctrine and message of the entire New Testament is the Lord Jesus Christ. As He was pre-eminent in all the types and prophecies of the Old Testament, so He is pre-eminent in all the New Testament. The Four Gospels give us four views of Christ. Matthew presents Him as the promised King. Mark presents Him as the Servant of God. Luke presents Him as the Son of Man. John presents Him as the Son of God. The Book of Acts demonstrates that our Lord Jesus Christ was the singular subject of preaching in the earliest days of Christianity. The words “preach,” “preached,” and “preaching” are used thirty-seven times in the Book of Acts. Every time they are used the subject preached was Jesus Christ and the resurrection! If the Book of Acts is to be taken for our standard, it must be concluded that unless Christ has been preached, no preaching has been done. That man who pretends to be a preacher but does not preach Christ and Him crucified mocks the people who hear him; and rather than serving their souls he destroys them! The Epistles reveal and explain the mysteries of Christ and His Gospel: Justification by His Obedience (Romans 5:1-21), Sanctification by His Blood (Hebrews 10:1-14), The Universality of God’s Mercy, Love, and Grace in Christ (Ephesians 3:1-21). Grace is for chosen sinners out of every nation, kindred, tribe, and tongue, not just for Jews. The Book of Revelation is a declaration of the sure triumph of Christ and His church by the Gospel (Revelation 1:7; 5:9-14; 19:1-6). 新約 整本新約聖經的教義與信息都是關於耶穌基督。正如基督在舊約中出現的類型和預言是居首位,在新約中也是如此。四福音書呈現基督的四個面貌。馬太福音中祂是應許的君王,馬可福音中祂是神的僕人,路加福音中祂是人子,約翰福音中祂是神子。使徒行傳呈現我們的主耶穌基督是早期基督教唯一傳揚的主題。「傳講」、「被傳揚」、「傳道」這幾個字眼在使徒行傳中出現37次之多,每次都用在耶穌基督與復活這個主題上。倘若以使徒行傳作為標準,我們可以下結論說除非傳揚的主題是基督,否則所傳的道是徒勞的。一個偽裝成傳道的人,卻沒有傳講基督與祂釘十字架,這樣的傳道人愚弄聽道的會眾,他不但沒有服事他們,反而摧毀他們的靈魂! 保羅書信啟示並解釋基督與福音的奧秘: 因順從稱義(羅馬書5:1-21), 藉祂的寶血成聖(希伯來書10:1-14),上帝在基督裡對普世的憐憫、慈愛、與恩典 (以弗所書3:1-21),恩典不單給猶太人,更是給各族、各方、各民、各國中被揀選的罪人。啟示錄宣告基督與祂的教會必定靠福音得勝。(啟示錄1:7; 5:9-14; 19:1-6)
Gospel Ordinances The only two ordinances of worship prescribed in the New Testament are designed to focus our hearts upon our dear Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Baptism is a symbolic burial and resurrection with Him (Romans 6:3-6). The Lord’s Supper is a symbolic remembrance of Christ Jesus and His great work of redemption as our Substitute (1 Corinthians 11:24-26). Without reference to Christ, the ordinances are meaningless rituals. Though given to religious legalists and ritualists, O Spirit of God, ever give us grace, as we search the Scriptures You have given us, to understand that the Book of God is about our Savior. Cause us to see Him in everything You have written in the Sacred Volume. 福音書中的條例 新約聖經中唯一規定關於敬拜的兩項條例,是為要我們將心專注在我們親愛的救主耶穌基督身上。受洗象徵與祂同死同復活(羅馬書6:3-6)。聖餐為了紀念耶穌基督和祂代罪的救贖大功(哥林多前書11:24-26)。若非與基督有關,條例只是無意義的儀式罷了. 僅管身旁充斥宗教律法主義與形式主義者,聖靈啊,當我們查考你所賜的聖經時,求你賜下恩典,使我們明白整本聖經是關乎我們的救主。幫助我們在每一處神聖的經文中都看見主耶穌基督的面貌!
Don Fortner
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Pastor Fortner’s
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